Vytautas Barkauskas

Photo: Algimantas Kunčius

Vytautas Barkauskas, one of the most prolific Lithuanian composers, belongs to the same generation as Alfred Schnittke, Sofija Gubaidulina, Giya Kancheli or Arvo Pärt. In the early 60-ies the composer was one of the first in Lithuania to experiment with serial and aleatoric composition, collage and other technics. In the 70-ies the composer moved towards more intuitive composition, aiming at the natural beauty of sound, writing more chamber and intimate compositions with "silent culminations" (Concerto for Viola and String Orchestra). "I do not restrict myself to any single composition system, but am constantly searching for a natural synthesis of styles. I want to write expressive, emotional and effective music", Vytautas Barkauskas says.